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AirAsia's Tony Fernandes praises Sri Lanka, after reports of talks

Nov 21, 2017 10:40 AM GMT+0530 | 1 Comment(s)

ECONOMYNEXT - Boss of Malaysia's AirAsia Tony Fernandes tweeted praise for Sri Lanka following reports that the budget carrier was in talks to set up a joint venture airline and help build a budget terminal in the island.

"Applause to countries like Sri Lanka who realise that not one airport fits all," Fernandez said in a post on twitter.com.

Sri Lanka's The Sunday Times newspaper said AirAsia had met senior ministers and a high powered economic policy committee to make the case for a joint venture airline.

The building of a 70 to 100 million dollar, budget airport terminal was also discussed the report said.

"Malaysia led the way with LCCT in KLIA and KKIA," Fernandes tweeted, referring to budget terminals in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia.

"And look at what we created. Largest low cost airline in [A]sia and huge [Tourism] and Job creator."

The Sunday Times AirAsia will seek a local joint venture partner for the airline if the government gives it a license to start an airline.

It is not clear how the budget terminal would be financed, if plans advance that far, but Sri Lanka's budget for 2018 announced a proposal to build domestic airports on public private partnerships. (Colombo/Nov21/2017)